Contrary to expectations of radical change, Giorgia Meloni has maintained stability by avoiding major actions that could upset the public or her coalition. This calculated lack of activity is a key reason for her government's endurance in a typically volatile political landscape.

An act of aggression can become so popular domestically that leaders feel compelled to see it through, even if initially intended as a negotiating tactic. The Argentine junta found the Falklands invasion was "the most popular thing they'd ever done," trapping them in a conflict they couldn't easily abandon.

Italian leaders openly framed their switch of alliances as a "sacred egoism" – a divinely appointed mission to enlarge the fatherland. This concept sacralized raw national self-interest, providing a moral justification for betraying former allies and pursuing a war of conquest.

When a leader initiates a conflict, an exit that leaves the situation worse than before is politically untenable. This dynamic creates immense pressure to avoid withdrawal and instead escalate involvement, as backing out becomes "political suicide."

While most WWI belligerents framed their involvement as a defensive necessity for "Hearth and Home," Italy was transparently opportunistic. Its leaders openly admitted they were not defending themselves but attacking for conquest and glory, making it arguably the most acquisitive campaign of the war.

Citing the historical example of the Lusitania, which was loaded with munitions and sent into U-boat territory without an escort, the host argues that governments orchestrate or permit attacks on their own interests. This creates a powerful casus belli, manipulating public opinion and forcing allies' hands.

In warfare, claiming a deceased or incapacitated individual is the new leader can be a brilliant strategic move. It stymies the enemy, who has no one to target, while allowing a hidden group to issue directives under the guise of the dead leader's authority.

Despite widespread public opposition, the Italian government used celebrity poet Gabriele D'Annunzio to ignite war fever. His impassioned, quasi-religious speeches created a frenzy among a vocal urban minority, pressuring politicians and the king into a war the majority of the population did not want.

Italy's blatant negotiation with both sides of WWI to secure the best territorial deal earned it contempt from its new allies. Winston Churchill called Italy the "harlot of Europe," and Prime Minister Asquith described it as "voracious, slippery, and perfidious," highlighting the deep cynicism behind their alliance of convenience.